Coyote is now on YouTube

Thaaaaat’s riiiiight… I’ve just posted three performance art videos on YouTube. All you gotta do is type in “Grey Coyote” and they’ll come up on the first page. Hope you all dig `em…

Coyote – The Writer has Landed!

Let me introduce you to the writing of Grey Coyote – a click away if you choose the link on the right sidebar! Coyote, owner of Paradise Bound, has business, music, acting and artistic talents, but perhaps his greatest skills lie in the areas of poetry and prose. It is with pride that I call myself his editor and he’s shared some fabulous “prosetry” and short stories with me over the last year. This writing will lead you on a jaunty stroll down a lyrical back lane, where Coyote imparts his impassioned and unique take on city life. Happy reading friends.

-Mike

Coyote says…

Drop out of society and join a community!

Mike’s “Top 5 Cool Moments” in the shop

Adam Arkin, Actor

After a little absence, I’m back! Of course I’m still blogging madly over at iam.strongandfree.ca but I’ve had this hankering to get back in the saddle (cue country music Coyo). So it’s been stewing for a while – a top 5 “cool moments” in the store. There’s been countless cool, interesting, weird and wild, and otherwise blissful or unique moments. I used to be “Mike on Mondays” for about two years so I’ve spent quality time. Anyway, here’s a snapshot of what retail life in Kensington Market can mean:

(in no particular order)

• Discovering New Music: I learned a lot about Deodato, Mongo Santamaria, and all kinds of jazz blues world legends while I worked, but the afternoon I found Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” was incredible. Sunlit, and fairly quiet, I played an Australian pressing of this classic album about 3-4 times back-to-back. It was magic.
• Naming Indie Rock Bands: Dave from The Golden Dogs used to drop by with some regularity, when he wasn’t touring or busy rehearsing (in B.B.G.D. – bands before the golden dogs). One day I distinctly remember him asking Coyote and I to listen to a demo he was working on and he asked us what we thought of a couple potential band names. One of which was obviously Golden Dogs- which we all took a shine to.
• Pedestrian Sundays: Looking out the window, or watching from the porch, the music tends to be the aspect that really comes alive on Kensington North. Perhaps the best moments have included my brother, Jeff Simpson, or Ken Stringer tinkling the ivories on the “street piano” or the intense Afro-Brazilian serenade of slave anthems that is the signature of Maracatu Nunca Antes – regulars I rarely want to miss.
• Hearing Coyote tell me he’s gotten calls from California and other places from people who’ve stumbled upon the website or blog, and knowing that all the hard work is paying off. Paradise Bound is going galactic (cue Beasties Coyote).
• Meeting the Stars: Perhaps the Daddy of them all, and admittedly definitely my “number one,” is the time I was working a couple summer weekends. One Saturday a man strolled in, and as he browsed, his back to me, I got this strange feeling I knew him but he was a stranger or celebrity. He spoke in a confident voice and turned and I felt a light euphoria. It was my favourite TV actor – Adam Arkin – who played the infamous maniacal cook on the 1990s series, “Northern Exposure.” I ended up advising him on a couple hip-hop selections and he left the store without me saying a “fan-like” word. I couldn’t believe it. I was starstruck. Fortunately he came the following Saturday and I wasted no time in opening up to tell him I was a big fan. He explained he was in town directing a movie. I lucked out and got to meet one of my favourite actors!

How about you? Any cool moments in Paradise Bound? Feel free to leave a comment!

Mike

Mikooshka touches down at Paradise Bound…

Local electronic musician Mikooska has an EP CD available here at the introductory price of $7. It’s a limited edition release that features J. Ulysses Castellanos free-styling on “Coconut Radio”. Drop in and check it out!

Coyote contributes to Wikipedia…

Hey there… Coyote here… Over the last few months, I’ve been adding to Wikipedia. Whenever I notice that someone noteworthy is in need of a page I do my best to create one. It’s quite a learning process and an art that I hope to refine over time. If you want to see what I’ve done, check out a few of my better entries, which are: George Koller, Tasa, Paul Kuentz and Lazy Bill Lucas. My main interests are obscure jazz and blues artists and CANADIAN MUSICIANS! Feel free to add anything I’ve forgotten if it’s a fact supported by a citation, because if the legitimacy of the addition is questionable, it will be tagged for speedy deletion. Enjoy!

Pedestrian Sundays Have Arrived!

Here they come! Just over two weeks to go until we close the streets and have our first big market-wide party of the year! Stay tuned for a list of bands and events! www.pskensington.ca

P.S. Kensington Sundays are: May 31, June 28, July 26, August 16 & 30, September 27, and October 25.

The streets are yours from 12-7pm (10pm on North Augusta).

Coyote returns to Bluz FM 91.1 this Saturday night, April 25th.

Hey there blues lovers. It’s pledge drive time at Jazz FM and Danny Marks has got all kinds of wonderful guests dropping in to help him raise ever important funds for our great not-for-profit jazz radio station. I’ll be on with Danny this Saturday night sometime between 8-12 pm, so tip a few bottles, dim the lights and join us for four hours of the greatest blues available at your fingertips. -And remember, no donation is too small and every dollar goes far.

What would you pay to have yourself entertained by a professional musicologist in your own living room?

This ain’t kids stuff!

Paradise Bound is blogTO’s sixth favorite cd store.

Check out blogTO for all sorts of great info about Toronto! Lots to explore! -www.blogto.com

Coyote visits Danny Marks at Jazz FM for Bluz FM

On Saturday March 7th, Coyote was the guest on Toronto’s best blues radio show, “Bluz FM” with the legendary musician, Danny Marks. Coyote and Danny talked about blues history, the staying power of vinyl and some of the people behind post-modern blues. Check out the Jazz FM 91.1 website sometime this spring to see when Coyote will be back for another guest appearance. Also, if you dig the blues and want to check out a great gig, get on over to the Silver Dollar on Saturday March 21st, for “A Special Evening With Danny Marks”. -www.dannym.com